Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPLICATION FOR PAT:@NT
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Title: APPARATUS FOP~ CON~ECTING TOGETHER FLQWLINE
~ END PORTIONS
'~ Inventors: Luther L. Manchestèr, Jr.
Bobby J. Reneau
: SPP~CIFIQTION
Technical Field
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~' The field of this invention relates to the ~onnection
together of first and second tubular members for fluid~flow
thereb'etween a~ter a damaged portion thereof has b~een re-
moved and~in particular, to the reestablishment of a connec-
; tion between the se~ered portions of an underwater pipeline. ' ~'
Prior~ Art
Typica}ly, in maki'ng repairs for an underwater pipeline,~
it is necessary~t~ remove a damaged section nd replace that
10~ s~ction with a new, undamaged pipeline section. Such a
~ replacement~reguires underwater welding~ which-is~extremely
'; ~ time consuming and~a technically difficult task. ~Various
'coupling devices have been developed to eliminate the need
~' for such underwater~welding procedures.
Such devices include such a device as disclosed in
United States'Patent No. 4,109,945 to the'instant inventors.
' However, a large number of nuts and bolts must be operably
engaged fox proper operation thereof. For example, one set
of bolts are''neces'sary for operation o~ the gripping struc-
0 ture'of the'4~109,945 patent, whi'le another set of fasteners
are'req'uired to operate the'sealing portion thereof. The
additional time necessary for oper'ation~of both~sets of
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fasteners further increases the time necessary for a diver,
who may be working at great depths, to remain at such depths
to effectuate 'the pipeline 'repair; for, the greatar the
depths worked at, the more'difficult the working conditions
are for the divers or the accurate installation of a
coupling device for connecting together the undamaged por-
tions of the pipeline. Furthermore, in addition to the
multiplicity of fasteners involved, there is accordingly a
more complex, mechanical structure necessary to accomplish
the result of connecting together flowline end portions in a
proper sealable relation.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and
improved grip-seal apparatus for insertion between the
;~ 15 severed end portions of a damaged underwater pipeline,
; having had the damaged section removed, with the apparatus
of the present invention connecting the severed end portions
together underwater inspite o some unpredictability being
present in the actual sizel roundness, and surface integrity
of the pipe end portlons.
It'is a further object of this invention to provide a
new and useful' mechanically less complex apparatus for
connecting together flowline end portions.
' These object and other objects of this învention are
set out in greater detail in the description to follow and
should not be interpreted as being anything more than a mere
summary of the objects of this invention. These ob~ect~ and
other objects of this invention are carried out by th~ grip-
seal apparatus of the preferred embodiment of this invention
for connecting together first and second flowline end por-
tions for fluid flow therebetween. Such a grip-seal appara-
tus includes' first and second housings having alignable
bores therethrough for at least partially receiving the
first flowline end portion. Gripper members are mountable
in the 'first housing bore for moving radially inwardly into
gripping engagement with the first flowline member. A
sealing assembiy is mounted in the second housing bore for
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movement radially inwardly into sealing engagement with the
first flowline member. An activating sleeve is mounted in the
second housing bore and in the bore of the gripper members for
longitudinal movement into engagement with the gripper members
: and the sealing assembly. Fastening means with the activating
sleeve fastens the first and second housings therewith resulting
in longitudinal movement of the activating sleeve with respect
to the gripper members and the sealing assembly for radially
inward mo~ement of the gripper members into gripping engagement
with the first flowline member and radially the inwardly movement
of the sealing assembly into sealin~ engagement with the ~irst
flowline member.
~; . According to th~ present invention, a grip-seal `~
apparatus for connecting first and second flowline members for
~; fluid flow therethrough., comprises a first housing having a bore
:; ~ therethrough for receiving the first flowline mem~er; a second
housing having a bore therethrough adapted for partly receiving
.
~ the ~irst flowline member extending through said first housing
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:bore; gripper means having a bore therethrough mounted in said
:20 ~ first housing bore for moving radially inwardly into grlpping
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engagement with the first flowline member upon relative axial
movement between said first and:second housings; sealing means
mounted in said second housing bore for moving radially inwardly
into sealing engagement with the first flowline member; said
gripper means inclu~ing a gripper member having a flange portion
mounted with said second housing; an activating sleeve mounted
partly in said gripper member and partly in said second housing
bore for axial movement into engagement with said sealing means;
fastening means including a plurality of threaded shafts
extendlng between said first and second housings,~sald fastening
means cooperating with said flange portion of said gripper
member,:said activating~sleeve, and said first and second housings
for fasten1ng said flrst and second housings:together; said
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gripper member being m~unted for axial movement relative to said
first housing for movement of said gripper means radially inwardly
into gripping engagement with the first flowline member; said
activating sleeve mounted for axial movement relati~e to said
.second housing, said fastening means ~ moving said activating
sleeve into engagement with said sealing means for moving said
sealing means radially inwardly into sealing engagement with the
first flowline member; and second housing connector means with
said second housing for connecting said second housing to the
second flowline member in order to esta~lish fluid flow between
the flrst and second flowline members.
Brief Description of the Drawin~
Fig. 1 is a sectional, eIevational view of the grip-
seal apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present inven-
tion.
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~' Description of the Preferred Embodi~ent
'~ Referriny to the'drawingsl the Ietter F designates
generally a flowLine or a pipeIine which is located underwater~
Such flowline F for any num~er o~ xeasons may have a damaged
area that must be removed, requiring the replacement of such
,~
a damaged area. Accordingly, the flowline F must ~e severed
into a first flowline member Fl and a second flowline mem~er F2 t
,~
which must accordingly thereafter he reconnected together for
transferring fluids, such as oil or gas, through the pipeline F.
The grip-seal apparatus A of the present invention is adapted to
be connected in the flowline~F to reoonnect the fluid flow through
the first flowline member Fl that has been severed from second
flowline member F2. Unless otherwise specified, it is pxeferred
that the comp~nents of the grip-seal apparatus A of the present
invention preferably be formed of steel or other suitable high- -
strength materials capable of taking the heavy stresses and
strains typically incumbent upon such an apparatus A when
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operating in its intended conditions and environment.
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The grip-seal apparatus A includes a first housing
designated generally as H1 for receiving the first ~lowline
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member Fl therein. The first housing Hl includes housing 10which is a hollow, cylindrical member having a bore generally
designated as lOa extending therethrough and adapted to
receive one end of the severed flowline F such as flowline
member Fl. The housing 10 has a radial lip lOb formed
adjacent to bore lOa with an annular surface lOc formed
adjacent to radial lip lOb and a radial lip lOd formed
adjacent annular surFace lOc. Inner annular surface lOe is
formed adjacent radial lip lOd with tapered surface lOf
formed adjacent inner annular surface lOe, with the tapered
surface lOf formed adjacent end surface lOg of the housing
10. At the opposite end of the housing 10 adjacent ~he bore
lOa, a radial flange lOh is formed having a plurality of
circumfexentially spaced openings such as lOi formed there-
in. Preferably a suitable vent lOj is formed between the
bore lOa and outer surface lOk of the housing 10 for filling
with a protective oil or lubricant such as grease or the
like to protect the gripper means G of the present inven-
tion as described more fully hereinbelow.
The second housing ~2 includes housing 20 having longi-
tudinally aligned bores 20a, 20br 20c of differing diametersr
with a radial lip 20d separating bores 20a, 20b and annular
tapered surface 20e separating bores 20b, 20c and end sur-
face 20f formed adjacent bore 20c. A radial flange 20g is
formed adjacent to bore 20a having a plurality of circum-
ferentially spaced openings 20h ~ased thereabollt the radial
flange 20g. It is preferred that the bore 20c be substan-
tially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the
flowline F and that the diameter of the bore 20b be sub
stantially the same as the outside diameter of the flowline
F for partially receiving the first flowline member Fl
therein. Preferab].y a suitable vent opening 20i is ormed
between the bore 20a and the outer surface 20j of housing
20.
Connector means designated generally by the number 30
are provided at the outer end of the second housing 20
adjacent end surface 20f for connecting the housing 20 to
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second flowline member F2. The connector means 30 may
include weldments 30a or may be of a ball joint flange
connection, a straight flange, a ball joint utili~ing con-
nection with a pipeline spool, or any other suitable connec-
tion means 30 for connecting the second flowline member F2
directly with the second housing H2 with such various types
of connector means 30 being detailed more particularly in
U. S. Patent No. 4,109,945.
The grip-sea'1 apparatus A further includes gripper
means designated generally as G. The gripper means G in-
cludes grippers 40, 41 having bores 40a, 41a formed there-
through. Gripper camming surfaces 40b, 41b are formed
adjacent bores 40a, 41a of grippers 40, 41 with end surface
41c formed adjacent gripper camming surface 41b. Outer
annular surface~40e extends from the radial end surface 40d
to radial flange 40f, with the radial flange 40f having a
plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 40g formed
:~ therein. Outer annular surface 41e extends between end
surface 41c and end æurface 41f. Preferably, all of such
~ 20 openings 40g are threaded with the exception of four ~hereof
-` as more fully discussed hereinbelow. Radial lip 40h is
~' formed between bore 40a and gripper camming surface 40b.
The radial flange 40f of gripper 40 includes an end surface
40i.
: ~ 25 The gripper means G further includes actuator sleeves
42, 44 which are preferably of a single piece collet type
`~ ~ and of a cylindrical configuration having bores 42a, 44a,
: respectively~ formed therein. A plurality of ca~ming
surfaces 42b, 44b~are formed with the outer annular surface
of the actuator sleeves 42, 44 and are adapted to operably
~; èngage gripper camming surfaces 40b, 41b, respectively.
Camming surfaces 40b, 42b extend stepwise in a thread-like
radially outwa.rdly fashion from radial lip 40h to end sur-
~' face 40d while camming surfaces:41b, 44b ex'tend stepwise in
:; 35 a thread-like 'configuration from radial lip 41f to end
surface '41c. It should be noted that the camming surfaces
40b, 42b, 41b, 44b preferably are ~formed in a spiral fashion
with the such camming surfaces spiraled to compliment one
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another for complimentary engagement therebetween for appro-
priate wedging surface action as discussed more fully here-
inbelow. Such camming surfaces 40b, 41b, 42b, 44b comprise
the camming means of the present invention.
The actuator sleeves 42, 44 further include a plurality
of gripping surfaces 42d, 44d formed within bores' 42a, 44a
of the actuator sleeves 42, 44. Preferably the gripping
surfaces 42d~ 44d are formed in a spiraling fashion, with
the spiral thereof corresponding with the spiral configura-
tion of the camming surfaces 42b, 44b adjacent thereto,
however being of a smaller pitch between adjacent spirals.
Furthermore, the actuator sleeves 42, 44 include a plurality
of circumferentially spaced slots 42e, 42f, 44e, 44f with
the circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots
42e extending from end surface 42g inwardly toward end sur-
face 42h and slots 42f extending inwardly from end surface
42h inwardly toward end surface 42g. Slots 44~, 44f are
similarly formed. The slots 42e, 42f, 44e, 44f, respective-
ly, may overlap, if desired and cooperate to make the actua-
:
tor sle~ves 42, 44 radially c~mpressible. Elongate slots42O, 44O are preferably formed with sleeves 42, 44 and
receive appropriate pins 40pr 41p formed with grippers 40,
41 for allowing longitudinal movement along the slots 42O,
44O, but no rotational movement therebetween. Preferably,
each sleeve is formed having two pairs of slots 42O, 44O
being horizontally opposed and pins 40p, 41p are appropri-
ately paired therewith~
~ The grip-seal apparatus A of the present invention
further includes sealing means M mounted in the second
housing H2 for movement radially inwardly into sealing
'' engagement with the flowline F such as with first flowline
member Fl. The sealing means M includes a plurality of
seals 50 adapted to be mounted in bore 20a of housing 20.
Preferably the seals S0 include a plurality of seals 50a,
50b separated individually by a plurality of backup rings
52, with the backup rings 52 separating each individual seal
50a, 50b from one 'another'. Furthermore,' preferably a lan-
ter'n ring 54 is centrally mounted within the sealing means M
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to separate groups of seal designated generally as 50a, 50b.
Further, the lantern ring 54 has an opening 54a foxward
therein and adapted to communicate'with vent opening 20i for
hydraulically determing leakage, if any, therebetween.
Preferably, backup ring 52a abuts radial lip 20d of housing
20 with an appropriate seal 50a positioned adjacent thereto,
with an appropriate number of backup rings 52 and seals 50a
thereafter disposed within the bore 20a. The lantern ring
54 secures such seals 50 and backup rings 52 appropriately
in place, with an additional plural}ty of seals 50b and
backup rings 52 being disposed therein bore 20a. The
sealing means M is ~ounted in housing 20 for movement radi-
ally inwardly into sealing engagement with the first flow-
line member Fl and radially outwardly into engagement with
bore 20a of housing 20 as described more fully hereinbelow.
The grip-seal apparatus A of the present invention
further includes an activating sleeve S. The activating
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sleeve S includes activating sleeve 60 having a bore 60a
formed therethrough, with substantially radial end surfaces
60b, 60c formed adjacent each end of the bore 60a, with
ou~er arlnular surfaces 60dr 60e formed adjacent radial end
sur~aces 60b, 60cj respectively, with radial flange 60f
formed therebetween outer annular surfaces 60d, 60e. '
Suitable circumferentially spaced openings 60g are pre-
ferably formed about the radial flange 60f of the activating
sleeve 60. Preferably, only four of such openings 60g are
threaded as discussed below. It is preerred that a some of
such openings 60g be threaded as discussed more fu:Lly here-
inbelow. The activating sleeve'60 is adapted to be mounted
such that the radial flange 60f may abut end surface 40i of
gripper 40 with annular surface 60d in engag~ment with bore
40a and radial end surface 60b in engagement with radial end
surface 40h of gripper 40. As such, there may be positive
surface contact between the gripper 40 and activating slee~e
60. Furthermore, it is preferred that the outer annular
surface 60e~be 'adapted to be disposed' within bore 20a of
housing 20 with radial end surface 60c abutting the sealing
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means M. Suitable anti-leakage means designated generally
62 is preferably mounted with the activating sleeve 60 to
prevent fluid rnigration between the activating sleeve 60
and the gripper 40, as well as between the activating sleeve
60 and the housing 20. The anti-leakage means 62 may in-
clude suitable seals such as O-rings 62a, 62b or any other
suitable seal, with O-ring 62a disposed between annular
surface 60d of ~he activating sleeve 60 and bore 40a of the
gripper 40 and O-ring 62b disposed between annular surface
60e of activating sleeve 60 and bore 20a of housing 20 for
preventing such fluid leaking. Thus, the activating sleeve
60 is mounted with the second housing H2 and the gripper
means G for longitudinal movement into engagement with the
gripper means G and sea'ling means M.
The grip-seal apparatus A of the present invention
further includes fastening means B with the activating
sleeve S for fastening the first and second housings Hl, H2
therewith, resulting in longitudinal movement of the acti-
vating slee~e S with respect to the gripper means G and
sealing means M. Preferably the fastening means B includes
threaded shafts 70 some of which are adapted to threadedly
engage a portion of the openings 40g, 60g that are simi-
larily so threaded. It shouId be noted that not all such
~` openings 40g, 60g are threaded; however, to the extent that
those that are threaded, that such threads would be com-
' patible with the threads on threaded shafts 70. It is
preferxed that the threaded shafts 70 be of sufficient
length to extend an appropriate length from the flange 60f
of the activating sleeve 60 to ~eyond flange lOh of housing
10 and in the opposing direction, to beyond flange 20g of
' housing 20. It is preferred that openings lOi, 20h, 40g,
and 60g be aligned with one another such that the threaded
- shaft 70 may extend through all such openings when in such
longitudinal alignment. The threaded shafts 70 are adapted
to recei've an appropriate nut 72 or be formed with bolt head
74.
The grip~seal apparatus A of the present invention
further includes' a spacer''sleeve 80 having a bore 80a
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formed therethrough with the spacer sleeve bore 80a adapted
to receive the flange 60f of the activating sleeve 60 there-
in. Furthermore, it is preferred that the spacer sleeve 80
be formed with end surfaces 80b, 80c. End surface 80b abuts
flange 40f of gripper 40 and end surface 80c abuts flange
20g of housing 20. The spacer sleeve 80 is for insuring
proper spacing between ~he gripper 40 and housing 20 as
described more fully hereinbelow.
: In the operation of the grip-seal apparatus A of the
presen~ invention, the first flowline member Fl of the
- severed flowline F is inserted into first housing Hl through
water seal 34. The water seal 34 acts to scrape a variety
of debris from the first flowline member Fl as it is in
~: serted into the grip-seal apparatus A of ~he present inven-
tion. Flowline member Fl is inserted into first housing Hl,
~ therethrough activating sleeve S, thereinto second housing
H2 with the sealing means M disposed therebetween the acti--
vating sleeve S and second housing H2. The fastening means
~:; B is mounted with the activating sleeve S for fastening the
: 20 ~irst and second housings Hl, H2 with the activating sleeve~ S. The .fastening means ~ results in the longitudinal move-
i : ment of the activating sleeve S with respect to the gripper
~ means G and the sealing means M. The longitudinal movement.~ of the activating sleeve S relative to the gripper means G;~ 25 moves the gripper means G radially inwardly into gripping
engagement with the first flowline member ~1. The longi-
tudinal movement of the activating sleeve S relative to the
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sealing means M moves the sealing means M radially inwardly
~ into sealing engagement with the first flowline.member Fl.
Vent opening 20i is used to hydraulically test the sealing
means M to insure a positive sealing relation before operating
the. flowline F.
More particularly, as the nuts 72 are threaded onto
: shafts 70, the housing 1~ is drawn towards the activating
sleeve S and gripper means G. ~s the housing 10 moves
toward the activating sleeve S, the water seal compression
ring 32 abuts radial lip lOb of housing 10 and water seal
34, resulting in radial expansion thereof into a sealable
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relation with flowline member Fl. As such movement is
taking place, camming suxfaces 40b, 41b and camming surfaces
42b, 44b 42c of the camming means of the present invention
are conseq'uently working in opposite directions and radially
compressing inwardly into engagement with the fir t flowline
member Fl for gripping engagement therebetween gripping
surfaces 42d, 44d and the outer surface of the first flowline
member Fl. As such, the camming surfaces 40b, 41b, 42b, 4~b
coact with'one another to force the gripping surfaces 42d,
44d of the'actuator sleeve 40 radially inwardly into grip-
ping engagement with the first flowline member Fl in response
to the fastening of the fastening means B. Gripper 40 of
the gripper means G coacts with actuator sleeve 42 for
engagement of the first flowline member ~1 for resisting
compressive forces while gripper 41 coacts with actuator
sleeve 44 for engagement with the first flowline member ~1
for resisting tension forces on the apparatus A of the
present invention to prevent withdrawal of the flowline
member Fl therefrom.
As noted hereinabove, it is preferred that all but ~our
'of the 'openings 40y be threaded while conversely all of the
openings 60g are unthreaded, with the exception of four
thereof which are threaded. Accordingly, the four threaded
openings 60g are suitable for permitting an appropriate
packing adjustment of the sealing means M by properly
placing the activating sIeeve S in proper xelation to ~he
housing H2, having the sealing means M disposed therebetween.
By fastening action of-the nuts 72 on threaded shaft 70, the
housing 10 is drawn towards the activating sleeve S for
gripping action. Rotation of bolt head 74 within threaded
openings 40g results in relative movement of housing 20 with
respect activating sleeve 60, resulting in compression of
; the sealing means M into sealing engagement with the'outer
surface of first flowline member Fl. As is shown, the
sea'ling mea'ns M is constrained between the 'end surface 60c
and radial lip 20d of the housing 20, with the seals 50
being compressed in such a fashion that they' will expand
radially inwardly into engagem'ent with'the first flowline'
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member Fl to provide a sealing relation therebetween and
radially outwardly to provide a sealing relation there-
between such sea'ls 50 and bore 20a of housing ~0. The
spacer sleeve 80 insures proper' spacing between the gripper
40 and housing 20.
Thus, the grip-seal apparatus A of the present inven-
tion is adapted to grip and sea'l the first 10wline member
Fl by merely engaging the fastening means B to effectuate
these results. With the first flowline member F1 firmly
gripped by the gripper means G and sealed with the sealing
means M of the present invention, the second flowline
- member F2 may be connected ~herew'ith by second housing
connector means 30 for rees'tablishment of fluid flow there-
throu~h the ~lowline F.
~ 15 Thus, the grip-seal apparatus A of the present inven-
'' tion provides a new and useful tool for quickly and effec-
tively reestablishing fluid flow through a flowline F having
been severed for removal of a damaged portion ~hereo~. The
~'~ grip-seal apparatus A provides for the gripping and sealing
about the first flowline member Fl for a gripping and
, sealable 'engagement therebetween the grip-seal apparatus A
and the flowline member Fl for thereafter being reconnected
with second fl~wline member F2 to reestablish flow there-
through. "
The foregoing di~closure and description of the inven-
~;' tion are iIlustrative and explanatory thereof, and various
changes in the size, shape and material as well as in
details of the illustrated construction may be made without
departing from the spirit of this invention.
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